CRAZY GERMAN LAWS! 6 surprising things that are forbidden in Germany | Feli from Germany

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ABOUT ME: Hallo, Servus, and welcome to my channel! My name is Felicia (Feli), I'm 27, and I'm a German living in the USA! I was born and raised in Munich, Germany but have been living in Cincinnati, Ohio off and on since 2016. I first came here for an exchange semester during my undergrad at LMU Munich, then I returned for an internship, and then I got my master's degree in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to win the Green Card lottery and have been a permanent resident since 2019! In my videos, I talk about cultural differences between America and Germany, things I like and dislike about living here, and other experiences that I have made during my time in the States. Let me know what YOU would like to hear about in the comments below. DANKE :)
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[@FelifromGermany]

*Correction on point 2: Since 2008, it's not relevant anymore that the name clearly indicated the gender of the child.

[@AntiwhitismIsJealousy]

Germany is occupied by antiwhtes who hate the country

[@B.A.B.G.]

Feli, just fyi, umgangssprachlich wird zwar von Beamtenbeleidigung gesprochen, aber ich habe es vor einiger Zeit recherchiert. Diesen Straftatbestand gibt es im deutschen Recht nicht.

[@FelifromGermany]

@@B.A.B.G. Das habe ich doch genauso im Video gesagt 😅 Der Tatbestand ist einfach Beleidigung.

[@B.A.B.G.]

@@FelifromGermany Hm, im Video ist aber von Beamtenbeleidigung die Rede (siehe ab 11:50 Minuten), deswegen habe ich darauf aufmerksam gemacht. Aber fein, allet jut. Gutnacht.

[@blindleader42]

@@AntiwhitismIsJealousy Go away, troll. If you think you are oppressed, then you have no effing clue what oppression is.

[@johnx4224]

„The freedom of one person ends where the right of another person begins.“ That‘s a common German saying that summarizes many of these laws.

[@dkadkins6545]

A lot of Americans believe the same.

[@emilioortega7513]

Yeah and it’s bullshit. Freedom is always the answer.

[@calguy3838]

@@emilioortega7513 "Yeah and it’s bullshit. Freedom is always the answer." "Freedom" to violate the rights of other people is a recipe for tyranny.

[@emilioortega7513]

@@calguy3838 tyranny by authoritarian government is ALWAYS and always has been the largest threat. Ask Germans.

[@calguy3838]

@@emilioortega7513 That in no way negates what I said.

[@adpop750]

0:32 :"are Germans obsessed with rules?". I'm from the Netherlands and this is what we says about our German neighbors "In the Netherlands everything is allowed, unless it's explicitly forbidden. In Germany everything is forbidden, unless it's explicitly allowed" 🤣

[@rabin371]

😂😂😂

[@RyanMichaelMcCrossan1422]

Germany is the Biblical Assyria and in bible prophecy Germany will lead a revived holy Roman empire into world war 3

[@RyanMichaelMcCrossan1422]

Zebulon Rise!

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc.....

[@patrickpowers5995]

This is interesting and is also used in the UK to explain the difference between UK law and French/Napoleonic/some EU law.

[@tj6703]

I just love your bright and shiny optimistic disposition ❤!!! We need more people with your outlook. As a longtime Cincinnati resident, thank you for making our town a better place.

[@daleburrell6273]

...that's nice of you to say...

[@oswaldoramosferrusola5235]

You are doing a great job at changing the views some people may have about the looks and behavioral traits of arch-typical Germans.

[@balancedactguy]

@@oswaldoramosferrusola5235 She will tell you that many/most Germans STILL fit the stereotype of being too "Stiff"!

[@virginiaconnor8350]

My boyfriend lived in Lebanon, Ohio and invited me to his h.s. reunion in '15. Excellent place! There's a Lebanon in Ga., Pa., and Tenn. too., but I've never been to the one in Ga.-where I live.

[@virginiaconnor8350]

Why would I want to name my son Superman? But can I name my dog T'Ami?

[@hanserikkratholmrasmussen6623]

As a Danish trucker I was often stopped by the German police. During the last maybe 20 years I think, they have loosened up a bit using the informal du. And I have done the same to them, without running into any trouble. And while we are at it: I was once employed by a company owner (trucks) of German origin, and I never had a boss who was more honest to work with. Not alone did he follow the rules, but he didn't try to bend them, as people often do.

[@moos5221]

As a (retired) german cop, I usually try to assess the situation and use either Du or Sie depending on the environment/atmosphere and the type of person I'm talking to...and the reason for talking to them. If it's just a stop without any suspicion of a crime and if it's friendly atmosphere then I tend to say Du, if it's something serious where etiquette matters it's a Sie from me. If someone uses Du to talk to me I would usually Du them back unless it's a serious thing, then I'd make them realize that they've used the wrong terminology to adress me as a person of respect. It's also an age thing, I would usually never say Du to a person significantly older then me unless they Du me first, that's a common way to approach this, that the older person decides if it's a Du or a Sie. If it is ever fined (which I never heard of) then it must be because the other person uses Du to disrespect the police officer/detective (I would assume).

[@Marunchak]

When I was stationed in Germany in the early 80's, my barracks was on a small Air Force installation in Wiesbaden, Lindsey Air Station, which was actually in a residential neighborhood; from time to time, guys in the barracks would blast music from their stereos on a Sunday with their windows wide open, disturbing the German neighbors across the street. Unfortunately for them, the Polizei had the authority to come onto the installation and confiscate their stereos, and confiscate they did. Surprise, surprise, suckers! I was glad they did it too, because I like peace and quiet on a Sunday myself.

[@TrolleyDodger.]

I was TAD in Augsburg.

[@Rufio_Cristiforus_Tucarus]

Well, you were still within the borders of another country, even though I thought I heard somewhere that military bases are an exception to that rule. Meh, could just depend on the situation, I guess.

[@reichhopprivatwatch1406]

Don‘t go to war with german neighbors. They actually do think they can win the war, so it might get pretty annoying.

[@Stant123]

Military bases aren't usually considered sovereign territory like an embassy is. Most countries aren't like the US in terms of having military bases in other countries either. In the vast majority of cases, that country claims the land as part of their own, then establishes a military base to reinforce that claim (see China, any number of islands in the South China Sea, for example). So while they may be overseas bases, they are still in their home country, or at least their claimed territory. The US operates a little differently in that we often times share (lease portions of) an ally's base to entice them to keep it open and remain present in a region (see UK, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean) or lease the land and build a base for ourselves (see US/NATO, Ramstein AFB, Germany). In the latter two examples, should the host country decide they no longer want the US present, we have to leave. Caveat to this is that the details of the agreements can establish time frames and hand overs of power, and one would hope any such occurrence would be amicable and following the terms, but we still have to go, because the land isn't sovereign territory of the US. (I forget the name of the base, but this has happened in Australia. The US got an agreement to come in and build a base for satellite monitoring or something like that, was building the base out when Aus elected a new Prime Minister that wasn't a fan of the project and kicked the US out of that base, and then moved Aus personnel in... Because why let a nice new base go to waste.)

[@alicemilne1444]

@@Stant123 De Gaulle kicked the US military out of France in the 1960s. I was a child at the time and I remember my great uncle, who was a retired colonel in the French army warmly approving the move. Most French people thought then that the US was trying to meddle in French domestic politics, which did not go down well at all.

[@alejandrodavidbolanos82]

I love the German appreciation for silence. That's respect! Respect for all.

[@lame7560]

unfortunately it's no longer "silence" while many people are talking loud with their smartphones all the time. Was in Japan some time ago, and that was much better, as even noone will talk (may only whisper) in metro or busses

[@Druide-ie1pc]

I´m 47 and from Berlin, Germany. Yes, I agree, the generation of the seventies ande the eighties, has a appreciation for silence and respect. I learned this from my familiy.We call this ,,Anstand" = Decency. Younger Generations and a lot of imigrants are different in behavior and prefferences. And the respect goes away, more and more, sadly.

[@MattNW]

Where I'm from, it's ten o clock courtesy. I got this from camping as I usually don't have many neighbors in the Northwest. Ten o clock courtesy seems to apply across all of America.

[@medexamtoolsdotcom]

Well except I thought the Germans were supposed to be efficient, and it is extremely inefficient for everyone to be designated to take the same day off. Because then if I'm free to do something because I'm not working at my job, now there's no point because everything is closed on the same day I'm taking off too.

[@Draconii-Rak]

@ALEJANDRO DAVID BOLANOS sadly my neighbours seem to not love it

[@joeyshumate2564]

I really enjoyed your presentation. I lived in Germany for over 25 years. After learning the language the one thing that impressed me greatly was the text written on the courthouse in Frankfurt a M, Something that shaped my thinking and life. The most important thing I have ever read, "Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar".

[@theowaigel8588]

That's a quote from our constitution

[@joeyshumate2564]

@@theowaigel8588 I know! It is written on the courthouse wall in Frankfurt am Main The first paragraph.

[@thesylance]

@@theowaigel8588 the real Theo Waigel? ^^

[@tobycatVA]

I will spare the non-German speakers the indignity of having to translate this quote it says "Human dignity is inviolable".

[@agn855]

@@thesylance - Theo Waigel: _"Das Würgen von Brezen ist unanpassbar!"_

[@brawdygordii]

As a Brit living near Munich the last 32 years these laws are now so ingrained in everyday life that nobody much thinks about them. However, I do think that if they were applied in Britain many things that are seriously wrong with British culture would improve in a short time.

[@constantine2788]

The laws are actually quite similar across European countries, so these doesn't apply only for Germany. I'm from Slovakia and I can assure you, that most of these "crazy" laws apply in Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and many more. (some even in UK) The contrast is only strong if you are comparing Europe to US.

[@thomasganszky8831]

it is perfectly legal to mow the lawn on a sunday or play piano 24/7. what is illegal is to bother your neighbors with noise, thats the spirit of the law, not the ban of doing some stuff. if you dont have neighbors or a soundproof room you can do whatever you want.

[@WickhardtvonBarnheim]

Use a scythe so no noise no problems

[@chrisrudolf9839]

There is actually the Rasenmäherlärmschutzverordnung, which explicitely forbids using lawnmowers and devices for blowing fallen leaves together in residential areas during Sundays and the protected hours in residential areas for private purposes. For the piano and almost everything else you are right, you just have to keep the noise down to the legally accepted levels at your neighbours estates, so if you are far enough away from other people's houses or have a well isolated room, you can make noise there 24/7.

[@alanlight7740]

You can get electric lawnmowers now that are quieter than a normal conversation. I wonder how they are affected?

[@algomes715]

It is illegal to smile or tell a joke on Sunday... 😂

[@markymarknj]

So, if you have an electric or a manual push mower that makes little or no noise, you can use it on Sunday then? I have a push mower, and that's what I like about it; I can mow my grass early or late, and not upset my neighbors.

[@Spaniard022]

I love when laws are specific and do not leave any space for the personal interpretation of it.

[@ChrisCooper312]

Yes. In a lot of other countries, many of these things are also illegal, but they tend to come under broader laws that leave more room for interpretation. As an example, here in the UK it's not explicitly against the law to run out of fuel on a motorway, but if you run out of fuel and end up blocking a live lane, you are likely to get in trouble, even worse if there is an accident.

[@thedhruvshow1775]

I found the point at 10:40 quite interesting as someone living in India! In Hindi, "Tu" similar to "Du" is the informal way to refer to someone while "Aap" is the formal way to do that

[@jasminm8784]

I am German and I love your videos. I learn a lot (I didn't know most of the laws you mentioned, I just naturally follow this because I grew up with it) and love how respectful you talk about both cultures!

[@bernhardbruening7546]

Sehr guter Kommentar!! Hier genau so.

[@iwonttellmynametoamachine5422]

@@bernhardbruening7546 Ihr kanntet die MEISTEN der Gesetze nicht? Krass

[@jenlovesjesus]

Hello. I agree with you-- it's refreshing to see someone like Feli speak respectfully of different cultures and the reasons behind their differences.

[@PaulMcElligott]

Just a suggestion, but your fellow KZbinr Caitlin at “Ask a Mortician” might be interested in talking to you about German funeral laws. Her channel is about death and burial customs, but she keeps it pretty light and good humored despite the subject matter.

[@leDespicable]

That'd be a very nice crossover, indeed.

[@ronjones-6977]

These two would get along really well.

[@calessel3139]

Good idea, Caitlin has a great channel.

[@brittaniesheanixon6635]

Great idea! Would make a great topic and video.

[@Nurichiri]

I just subbed to her and now I'm seeing deathlings everywhere.

[@Hainero2001]

By the way, "du" fascinates me as a word. It is a cognate cognate of "thou" in English (previously "Þu" in Old English) and "tu" in Spanish. It's interesting that Þ looks like a D and the D is what German ended up using in "du". The Þ made a th sound and is where we got "thou" from in early modern English, though it is archaic to use now. But it was in fact the formal way to say "you". Spanish doesn't use the d or Þ, but rather the t. Spanish being Latin based shares an older connection to the Germanic languages in Indo-European. So, it's really so interesting that the Þ, which manifests as D in other Germanic languages, made a th sound, because the D in spanish also make more of a th sound than a hard D sound. Sorry for the novel.

[@RossOneEyed]

I loved the five years I lived in Germany (Hesse, Friedberg, Bad Nauheim and Ffm). One of the reasons I enjoyed my time there was that the society had structure. I knew what to expect in conversations, dining or just wanderung. (My favorite German law was the reinheitsgebot..) This give me Heimweh.

[@agn855]

Will have a Kultbräu (Ockstädter beer) 🍺 - served at "Die Dunkel" (Friedberg, Kaiserstraße) - on your behalf 😇. Greetz

[@RossOneEyed]

@@agn855 Danke!

[@tristanholland6445]

I was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in the Air Force and worked on the flight line. We did very limited air operations on Sundays because it violated the German noise laws.

[@YaBoiFetz]

I hate so many laws and restrictions here in Germany but the rules and laws about Sundays are actually pretty awesome imho

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc....

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc.....

[@jasminm8784]

I am German and live close to a military base and I can confirm that these super loud aircrafts are annoying on Sundays. Typical German here as it seems :-)

[@africanlipplateandbonenose3223]

the craziest law is that if you question the holobunga, you go to prison. As well if you question jewish power or jewish influence.

[@simonsaunders8147]

The best German "law" I came across was when visiting some friends in Hamburg. We were stopping a short train ride away from the city and I was desperate to use the bathroom/toilet. A friend told me to go to the local fish restaurant and ask to use theirs. I did and there was no questioning looks given me. As there is/was no public toilet to use a restaurant apparently cannot deny usage of the bathroom area. Seems very sensible to me.

[@abyssstrider2547]

That's how it is in most places in Europe.

[@allanrichardson9081]

It’s also good business, since some time in the future they may wish to buy your product.

[@krischan67]

To my knowledge, they can ask for a small amount of money, however. No matter whether that's true or not, if time is running short for a restroom visit, you better don't start a debate about what your rights are... and 50% of what you read about it in the internet is wrong anyway. Give a 1-2€ tip, run into the toilet and say thank you when you leave. That's better than getting your will and having shitty underwear for the rest of the day. A small tip is good manners anyway.

[@simonsaunders8147]

@@berttrapp Or just relieve yourself outside their premises in protest 😛 Maybe the Hamburg people are very nice?

[@tomlawhon6515]

I used to go south on U.S. Highway 127 in Kentucky and along the way I would see a shop with a sign saying Hitler's Welding. I assume it was the welder's last name. You said that it illegal in Germany to name a child Hitler, but I assume you are talking about the child's first name. What about the last name and does Germany have business signs like the one I used to see in Kentucky. I have not travelled down that highway for about 20 years, so I don't know if the business is still there. Apparently, since it looked to be an old business, the name was not fatal to the enterprise.

[@picklerix6162]

My relative vacationed in Germany with her family. She said that if you wanted to do any shopping in the small town where they were staying, you had to get up early because all of the shops closed at noon. Back in the 70’s, Texas had blue laws that outlawed the sale of certain items on Sunday. Once, a clerk at the grocery store told me that I couldn’t buy a quart of motor oil on Sunday so I drove to the auto parts store and bought the oil.

[@pigoff123]

I had my daughter in a German hospital. I had to argue with them about naming my daughter Christina Tracy Rose. Rose was not an acceptable name they told me. I won in the end.

[@Nabend1402]

That's weird. I thought that the rules on middle names were less strict. And also Rose seems like 100% normal and a traditional German name, unlike Tulpe or Gänseblümchen 😆...

[@sarsonder5127]

This is so interesting! I changed my last name to Rose in the United States, and when I went to renew my German passport, the woman kept telling me that it would not be allowed in Germany and that I “can’t just choose a random word as a Name“.

[@xXSingMusic4everXx]

Me, a German, practising my electronic drums on speakers 3 h straight, in my apartment on the highest floor, sweating, fearing for people below and around me to become annoyed. Good thing is that my apartment building apparently has good sound isolation. Although, I frequently hear a clarinet from the flat diagonally from me hehehe. Tbh, most Germans are like "as long as noone is bothered and telling me so, I'll just do it", at least according to instruments.

[@jodiejackson3089]

It's like other things where it's technically illegal but so long as nobody bothers to report it youll get away with it ... e.g. not allowed to swear in the street in UK ... it its not like the police have the time/inclination to trawl around for people to arrest/fine

[@xXSingMusic4everXx]

@@jodiejackson3089 exactly. Also, I didn't even know practicing yiur instrument can be illegal. I always thought that the only time you can't be (too) loud is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., our "Nachtruhe".

[@midomidomid]

Seriously that's really weird! You don't need laws for that. I thought "not bothering your neighbors with loud music/instruments" was a common sense. I play electric guitar and I'm always careful with the volume depending on the time of the day. Only had one complaint to this day and tbh I was drunk and didn't notice that the volume was a bit too much for 11pm 😂 My neighbour told me I was too loud, I turned it off. Problem solved! I'm glad to hear most Germans also handle it this way! P.S. I'm definitely voting for "Eskimo Callboy" If they go to Eurovision 😁

[@getaleks]

It's a common mistake, but there is no law called "Beamtenbeleidigung" in Germany. There is only the law § 185 StGB "Beleidigung" -> Insult

[@manfredconnor3194]

That is correct!

[@filone1970]

But Majestät Beleidigung - ask Böhmi...

[@RemsCoastCustoms]

Came here to say that. "Beamten" have no better status than anybody else, It's more like it's getting legally pursued more often by cops, and that there are usually two of them, so they have witness to the incident.

[@Delibro]

She did mention that too in de video.

[@WinneWars]

Klugscheißer

[@andybreglia9431]

The one about making noise on Sunday reminded me of Oliver Hardy telling Laurel "Stanley, if you must make noise, do it QUIETLY." The camera then moves to Stan Laurel with that blank expression thinking "How the heck am I supposed to do this?"

[@annemiura7767]

I love all these laws, especially the one about quiet.

[@fbessels]

Hi Feli, even though you make these videos more for the US citizens to explain how things work in Germany it is for me coming from the Netherlands really interesting to understand how some things actually work in the US. The Netherlands and Germany are off course neighbours so a lot you tell about Germany is the same for us like all the rules plus we dutchies also like to plan almost every minute of our day, even if we do nothing we like to plan that in advance🥴! One difference is that we can take a urn back home even though I think that is kind of creepy. Greetings from the Netherlands (not far from the German border and city Nordhorn)🙋🏼‍♂️

[@anthonyfuqua6988]

We in the U.S. have only recently come around to cannabis freedom. Amsterdam did this way back in '76.

[@yasmina6987]

Good that you mentioned that, I'm from the Netherlands but I've been living in Germany since quite some time now, and I was really surprised that you're not allowed to take an urn home... my Dutch grandmother has her urn at home so I was used to that. Weird :) But I think the rest of the laws apply in the Netherlands as well, besides the fact that we're also loud people :D

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc.....

[@MarcovandenHout]

I'm Dutch myself and I do feel (though not with scientifical evidence ;-)) that in the Netherlands law enforcement prefers not to act upon people breaking laws if they don't have to (or hope that their presence will be enough to stop it), and in Germany they would more often feel it as their duty to enforce the laws at all times.

[@jbmcdoogle]

In the Czech Republic, up until recently, you could not give your child an English name. It had to be on the approve list of Czech names. So an American married to a Czech had to agree on a Czech name.

[@TheLukasz032]

Well, similar situations with almost every country - primarily due to convenience, names are to be used by others (mainly locals) calling their holders ;) In Poland we have a general rule names should exist, not be a short form of another name and be able to be spoken by a Polish person. If a registry official has doubts if the name is valid, he can ask the Polish Language Council for a binding opinion if the name can be used or not (in the latter case, it can land on the list of prohibited names). Also traditionally names that end with -a are reserved for females, due to grammar.

[@krakendragonslayer1909]

Yes, we have the same in Poland, you cannot give your child a pagan name like Kasia, Asia, Basia, Jadzia, Tadzik, Kazik, and you can only give christian names instead and old pagan names are nowadays considered diminutive form and christian name is considered the main form of a particular name. Not Kasia but Katarzyna, not Asia but Joanna, not Basia but Barbara, not Jadzia but Jadwiga, not Tadzik but Tadeusz, not Kazik but Kazimierz.

[@petrkubena]

Not in that case. You could always (last 20 years) give a foreign name if your spouse was from a foreign country or if you were expected to live in a foreign country with a child. And there was never a list per se. It's only limited to existing names and when in doubt, you have to prove that it is an existing name.

[@uliwitness]

The names situation is quite interesting: A lot of it depends on the official handling your case (which is usually assigned to you based on the first letter of your last name, so randomly). If they accept a name you're usually fine. Some are quite liberal, others insist on "germanic" names. There are also exceptions for foreigners, letting them pick a name from their own culture. In the end, if you can convince your official, and the name is not an insult, you're golden. People have got through Lord of the Rings names by finding a similar-sounding Swedish name and claiming it was just a different transcription of that old Germanic name.

[@trirain146]

that's not exactly true, there are rules about how you can name your child and if you want to name your child with some "unusual" name it has to be approved by expert witness/judge advocate (soudní znalec v oboru jména). The name you want has to be used anywhere in the world as actual name. If you were denied to name your child with English first name it was wrong.

[@abellewis3062]

"Whether it'll be a reason for bullying later in life." That right there, parents in the U.S.A. name their kids anything they WANT, they're not worrying about bullying later in life, they're just naming their kids, thinking "it's just a name" but when people joke about their name, then it's something different.

[@graemecatty9921]

Correct. Michael is a popular first name and Hunt a popular surname. But you don't call your son Michael if your surname is Hunt, as Michael is very often abbreviated to Mike. I'll let you work that one out 🥶🥵

[@abellewis3062]

@@graemecatty9921 There’s nothing wrong with those names. I seen worse.

[@ianhills8980]

It's the same in the UK. Almost all children under 10 now have stupid names.

[@2pugman]

Here in America, the state of New Jersey removed a child from its parents because they named their child Hitler. They also removed another child within a day after birth to prevent another child from another name disaster. This was done during the mid '90's. The parents were full blown Neo-Nazis.

[@flolx3]

Hi, ich lebe in Deutschland und schaue Deine Videos sehr gerne, da sie zum einen immer informativ und interessant gestaltet sind, zum anderen aber auch, weil mich die Sichtweise der Amerikaner auf uns Deutsche so besser verstehen kann.

[@ramonarohnstock4142]

There is a good reason for the "Friedhofszwang" in Germany. As there are often quarrels between relatives, gravesites are supposed be on public ground. That way everyone get's to visit the gave and mourn their loved one. Otherwise it could happen, that someone keeps the urn on his private property and denies others access to the grave.

[@buffymcmuffin5361]

Thank you - makes sense.

[@xxxaragon]

what can be annoying is that children of deceased people are obliged to pay for the funeral, even if you are estranged. only in the case of very few scenarios you are not obliged to do so (iirc this includes something like being the victim of sexual molestation by that parent).

[@FlatOnHisFace]

I know that _I_ can't mourn for someone whose cinders are further than three dachshunds away from me.

[@trex2621]

@@FlatOnHisFace This is actually a pretty long distance.

[@Ometecuhtli]

Why doesn't everyone get a share of grandpa Fritz from the start?

[@joebaker9861]

Love the fact that you mentioned it's illegal to leave your car on the side on the Interstate in Youngstown, Ohio. I wish this were enforced! I'm from Youngstown, and let me tell you, there are cars on the side of the interstate DAILY!!! lol By the way, I have also lived in Germany. First while stationed there in the Army. Then, after I got out, I moved back with my German wife (now ex-wife). I really enjoy watching your videos. It's bringing back so many wonderful memories. ❤Thank you!!!

[@tmurrin1979]

I live pretty close to Youngstown and was not aware of that. I'll definitely have to be careful now when I go there for the cheaper gas! 😂 But yeah, there's always a ton of abandoned cars along the highways around the area.

[@Zaryn9000]

a friend looked up the law and it specifies an area downtown, not on 680

[@nickaschenbecker9882]

It is also illegal to walk on the interstate.

[@dieSpinnt]

She should've explained the reason, because of course there is one, hehe: Broken down cars (the avoidable ones with missing gas for example), morons with bicycles or walking on the Autobahn, people who forgot how to secure their break-down or accident (with effing correct placed warning triangles and safety vests ... that basic knowledge is PART of the driving license test) are responsible for around 140 deaths and a much bigger number of life-threatening/changing injuries (statistics based on 2020). Those are AVOIDABLE! You may get the wrong imagination, but the total number of deaths per year on the Autobahn is 2600. Those 140 are massive, tragic and as I said avoidable just by common sense and getting over your own laziness ... oh, and they are lost forever. Greetings from a random fire department girl here in Germany. I wish you good and above all accident-free driving, Joe!:)

[@fredashay]

Hi, Feli from Germany! I like your lawn mowing and music playing laws! I like to sleep late on weekends and I hate it when people work early on weekends! And, yes, we have a lot of weird laws in America, too!

[@agn855]

Saturday is considered a working day in Germany. So, of course people who can’t mow their grass during the week are doing it at that day, without any problem.

[@fredashay]

@@agn855 Oh, so you only get one day off on the weekend? I guess it is too hard for you to have some courtesy for you neighbors and start your mowing later in the day! (and people complain that Americans are rude?)

[@frh-freerangehuman]

I love videos like this. I’m Canadian but a great mix of Danish, German, Swedish and Scottish. These kind of videos help me understand why I am the way I am.

[@serpentobscura]

😊

[@craigknox1131]

So Canadian.

[@hassegreiner9675]

I love the laws against terrorizing your neighbours with noise

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc....

[@elgatofelix8917]

The craziest German laws are their thought policing and anti-free speech laws

[@Julian-tf8nj]

we could use those law in the US - too many incredibly rude people here, when it come to noise 🤨

[@craigknox1131]

Lots of places in the world just don't understand not terrorising neighbours with noise. Thinking of Central American countries in particular here.

[@02091992able]

@@Julian-tf8nj There are noise ordnances in cities and towns in the US. If your neighbor is having a very loud party, you can report them to the police. The police generally give a warning at least with the first violation. But if it continues the neighbor will get a fine for violating it.

[@pendragon2012]

Well, that was fun to wake up to! 😃 Happy Friday, Feli! Hope you're doing well!

[@timmartindale75]

When getting my Aufenthaltserlaubnis in Bayern I had to sign a form declaring that I was not a member of a whole page of different groups. One by one I went through the list and declared that I wasn't affiliated with one group then another. The best part, though, was the final question, which asked me, "have you lied on this form?".

[@brawdygordii]

After taking German nationality due to Brexit (we've lived in Germany for 32 years) One question on the form was "Are you prepared to give up your original nationality?" I ticked the "no" box. In the interview I was told you have to say yes otherwise you won't get the German nationality. I'm still dual nationality now but I have to be "prepared" to give up my UK nationality if needs be 😊

[@kevinm.8682]

This was so informative! Thanks again for your research and preparation.

[@thestoryteller8888]

I love German, the language, and really want to go to Germany! Totally appreciate the silence!

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc.. ...

[@aleisterlavey9716]

Then you should give the finish language go too

[@elgatofelix8917]

The silence (also known as laws against free speech)

[@Dummigame]

@@elgatofelix8917 shut

[@LordBelakor]

then do so, come and take a look, we are happy if you want to check out our country. no need to learn german, if you speak english you will be super fine

[@val91201]

I just love how you said Beamtenbeleidigung without batting an eye

[@jeffreyflynn5013]

I think you should have a series where we can learn German from you!

[@ci1907]

Just a slight correction: Checking your car every 2 years is actually called "Hauptuntersuchung" or HU. TÜV is just the organisation that had a monopole performing those check ups for a long time. Nowadays there are plenty of other places as well. As always thx for your video!

[@Saturnous]

Wrong - actual you can go to DEKRA for your Hauptuntersuchung too.

[@Steve14ps]

In Great Britain cars have to be inspected every 12 months, referred to as an MOT (from Ministry of Transport). My car has just failed its MOT, some expensive repairs to do! :-(

[@evilbob840]

In America, the law is different from state to state. I'm in Maryland, and we have checks every 2 years for toxic emissions in the exhaust, but the full vehicle check is only required when it is being sold. Nearby in Virginia, they have a full check every 2 years (which includes the exhaust), and are required to put a state-issued sticker on the window to prove they are up to date.

[@Saturnous]

@@evilbob840 Fun fact, US rules for emissions from diesel cars are more restrictive than any German or European law, despites we got a reglementation about how clean a car must run to enter urban areas. BMW sells in the US cleaner cars than at home and forbids to built in parts produced for the US market into EU versions to get cars green enough for German cities. BMW = a**holes.

[@evilbob840]

@@Saturnous That is crazy. You would think they would just charge extra for the cleaner parts and everybody wins.

[@thehoneybadger8089]

There is an old American saying about the difference between America and European countries. " In America, everything is permitted unless it is prohibited by law and in Europe, everything is prohibited unless it is permitted by law."

[@shure81]

True today as ever

[@juavi6987]

Some people may behave like that, but technically it's like in the US

[@littlst]

What would the UK be like if it had fewer laws: France. And if it had more laws: Germany.

[@thehoneybadger8089]

CORRVPTISSIMA RE PVBLICA PLVRIMAE LEGES

[@thehoneybadger8089]

@@juavi6987 Not even close, except for maybe in some blue states.

[@sueradke4506]

Hallo Feli, when I lived in Germany back in the early 80’s there was a law that you could not do laundry, work on your car, no stores were open etc. on Sunday’s. It was taboo. We used have our stores closed on Sundays as well except one small one that was open from 9am-1pm. Almost everyone went to church. Was nice and quiet and relaxing. Thank you for your videos. 😊

[@ilanarhian]

The stores are still mostly closed on Sundays - not many people go to church now though (people identifying as Christian are a minority in Germany now).

[@jimattrill8933]

Just about everything would close on Saturdays and Sundays in Germany. Except the bars. That was many years ago maybe things have changed. But some laws are crazy. We used to have a law here in SA that shops could be open on Sundays but could not sell pool chemicals or dog food. Those were cordoned off with a fence. I don't know what they had against dogs...

[@nickaschenbecker9882]

There are books devoted on listing crazy American laws that are still in effect. For instance, if you have a refrigerator on your front porch in Pennsylvania (more common than you think, actually) it's illegal so sleep on it. I do, in fact, know someone who was issued a warning for this. He was smoking (not tobacco) on his front porch one warm July night and fell asleep on top of his nice, cool freezer chest. The cops woke him up and informed him it has been illegal since at least the mid-19th century. Pennsylvania also has laws about singing in the shower. If your neighbors can hear you (think if you live in an apartment complex with thin walls) they can, perhaps rightly, call the police and you will receive a citation.

[@matttjaden]

In Virginia we have annual vehicle safety inspection every year for all vehicles registered in the Commonwealth. Also, you can be fined by the State Police for running out of fuel on the interstate. Recently in the last couple of years it is also illegal to travel in the left lane if not passing but it rarely gets enforced.

[@dutchy1121]

Strange that you recognize that Virginia is a commonwealth yet still call the police State Police? How does that compute? If Virginia is not a state, how can they have state police? (yes I grew up in Virginia)

[@birdandcatlover5597]

Yeah…in Iowa the left lane thing is true. I e never seen someone get pulled over for it…despite going 80 mph (limit is 65mph). The should lose their license for life, but again…never the cherries and berries (pulled over…refers to lights)

[@gagamba9198]

_'illegal to travel in the left lane if not passing but it rarely gets enforced.'_ Lane discipline is important because its improves road safety and travel efficiency.

[@jamesf5150]

@@birdandcatlover5597 "Cherries and berries", that's funny! When I was growing up, State Police had a big red rotating light on the roof and we called them "gumballs". That term has long gone extinct, though.

[@birdandcatlover5597]

@@jamesf5150 you should see the lights the newer Iowa police or state trooper vehicles use...you can see them as long as nothing is blocking your vision! Lights on the license plates, lights around all the taillights, lights in the window...all of them moving. And the standard bar of lights on the roof

[@ostormer]

Hey Feli, bin auch Auslandsdeutscher, und finde daher dein Blog besonders zutreffend. Hast du dir überlegt evtl. ein Paar deiner Videos auf deutsch zu drehen? Es würde wahrscheinlich nicht nur die paar deutsche wie wir die langfristig im Ausland wohnen interessieren, sondern auch andere in den USA die sich sprachlich erweitern wollen. Nur eine Idee, weiter so! Olli

[@clarencemcgregor8568]

I was stationed in Germany while in the US Army some time ago,. I would routinely drive on the Autobahn in a 4x4 Army truck. One winter day there was a light snow and traffic was backed up a bit especially on the Ausfart (Exit Ramp). I could see that I could easily take a short cut to my exit by leaving the pavement for a short distance downhill in the snow so I did... What surprised me when I looked into my rear view mirror was that I had a short line of German vehicle following me, kind of like sheep, all they needed was a leader...

[@emilywatts9818]

Yes! Please do more on mortuary/post mortem laws in Germany.

[@Zaephrax]

I heard it is apparently illegal in Germany to wash your car on the street or on private property. You have to take it to an actual car wash so they can dispose of the soapy run-off water properly to protect the environment. As someone who regularly forgets to wash their car, that's not too much of an issue for me but driveway/on-street car washing is quite common in the UK.

[@relash1345]

Thats actually true i guess

[@ClaudiaG.1979]

German here, its true.. i am not allowed to wash my car in my property.. but it depents very much in which part of germany you live in. In some Municipals its allowed to rinse it off with clear water, but some municipals say its forbitten because of all the greese and oil that could come off.. some parts of germany allow cleaning the car if the property has a drainage for grey/black water..

[@Opa_Andre]

Thats actually true and because of the potential of environmental pollution. Therefore we have designated cleaning parks or specific cleaning places at car stations. Those areas are ground sealed in order that no oil or other liquids are able to penetrate the soil. But those cleaning parks or even the automated systems at gas stations are usually closed during Sundays due making noise...

[@markschoning5581]

@@ClaudiaG.1979 If you do equip the drain of your garage with a oil separator ( Ölabscheider) you are allowed to wash your car in your garage. But most people don’t do this of course.

[@aphextwin5712]

@@ClaudiaG.1979 Or you could accidentally misalign your lawn sprinkler to irrigate your car as well as your lawn.

[@ChrisCooper312]

The first time i visited Germany, one thing that struck me was how pedestrians would wait at crossings until the pedestrian lights allowed them to cross. This contrasts to the UK where it's common to rush across as soon as there is anything like a gap. It wasn't until talking to an Emglish friend who lived in Germany that i realised that jaywalking was illegal. Apparently they found out when shortly after moving they rushed over a crossing when the pedestrian lights were against them, and were spotted by a police officer. Unlike in some places where they would have got a fine, the officer on realising they were not German explained to them the rules and told them to not break them again. The other confusion was crossing a road when the pedestrian lights were green, and having a car come towards me. I initially stopped, probably to the drivers frustration, but then i realised they were stopping and did that funny quick jog with the raised sorry/thanks hand. I then later realised that German junctions are often set up to allow right turn when the pedestrian crossing to the right is being used, as long as long as pedestrians get right of way. That's one i still find a bit weird when in Germany, especially given in the UK, drivers of German cars have quite a reputation for being loose with rules. Actually, another thing i still find odd when in Germany is seeing German cars using indicators, since it's a rare sight here in the UK.

[@williamschnl]

06:08 thank you, were waiting for you to mention that name😄

[@curtisaz]

Yes! We found the limits on cemeteries very interesting when we visited family in Germany on one of our recent trips. It would be good to hear your perspective on cemetery rules and how families honor their loved ones after the limits are met. I’m also wondering how expensive it is to have a funeral and to purchase a burial plot.

[@stephanpopp6210]

Just back from a German funeral. The undertaker organized everything, cremation, obituary, flowers, notifying the offices and all, and takes ca. € 5000. Where I grew up (Nuremberg area), it is customary to have fresh flowers and a burning lantern on the graves twice a year, on Good Friday and on 1st November (All Saint's Day). Moreover, you should always keep your graves neat and clean. This mirrors your respect for your deceased relatives, in the same way that your neat and clean front yard mirrors your character. City people may object, but life in German villages is like this.

[@bavarianbrit1]

Buying a plot only keeps it for for you for 25 years. Then you must pay up again, its a moneymaking cartel.

[@uliwitness]

One interesting bit is the regulations for what you are allowed to have on your headstone. Yes, even that is regulated. You can't just have random quotes or symbols on a headstone.

[@bavarianbrit1]

@@uliwitness Being the last in my line there is no need for me to have a headstone or even a burial. Lasst die wildschweine gut fressen an mich. Horiddo/Weidmannsheil.

[@luv2code]

One American law that my European friends and relatives find odd is the law against public drinking. So you have to put your cans and bottles in a sack to drink from them. That's how you make it private when it's in public.

[@nydydn]

how about you? Don't you find it odd? When you drink out of a bag, it's more obvious that you're drinking alcohol than drinking straight from a bottle. I mean, what's the point of the law, since all it does is the exact opposite of what it's meant to do, which is limiting the promotion of alcohol. I am not saying alcohol should be promoted, but keeping a law that intends to limit the promotion of alcohol, that in fact promotes alcohol, is not not promoting alcohol.

[@WobblePizza]

I'm American and it drives me crazy. Germany seems to have laws where you want them (quiet, not ruining your kid's life with a bad name) and no laws when you don't need a law (no speed limits, no restriction on outside drinking). I really like the sounds of it. Here you are free to play music out loud while you hike, ruining everyone else's vacation with trap music, yet you can't have a beer in a park. Makes no sense.

[@vintifada7115]

I’m pretty sure putting cans and bottles in a sack doesn’t “make it private.” That’s just a way hobos drink in public so it’s not obvious. It doesn’t suddenly make it legal

[@nydydn]

@@vintifada7115 why do hobos do it then? They're hobos, not stupid. They know everyone knows that's alcohol in that bag. The police knows as well, cause they're not stupid either, and they rarely if ever do something about it too.

[@itsmemailingyou4234]

In Texas as long as we are not within 1000 ft of a school, church, or halfway house we can drink alcohol. Walking down the sidewalk and drinking is fine. Some larger cities in th e business district it is not allowed. State law other than within CBD with approval from the state, prohibiting open containers is prohibited. Open containers is only one of three things you cannot be arrested for a traffic stop. No seat belt, no turn signal etc., you can be arrested (usually given tickets, they can arrest), not open container though.

[@chyrlwillis9422]

I lived in Germany for 5 years. I remember all of these from talking to friends. On a trip with friends we once ran out of gas on the autobahn. 😢 we were really praying that no officer passed while one of us set out on foot or the nearest gas station. Fortunately a kind motorist gave them a lift, which was a great relief.

[@ankebosing1968]

Walking on the Autobahn is forbidden, because it is very dangerous!

[@callsigndd9ls897]

Yes, where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge, but the rule applies that before driving on the Autobahn you have to make sure that you are not left with an empty tank. Anyone stuck on the Autobahn with an empty tank will face a fine of 70 euros. According to the road traffic regulations, stopping on the Autobahn because of a lack of petrol is an avoidable traffic obstruction and is therefore prohibited. The same goes for walking on the Autobahn. It's too dangerous, to do both. I don't think this rule is nonsensical.

[@CapitalJ25]

Excellent video! Fascinating topic!

[@ryank5424]

Always enjoy hearing about weird or funny laws in my own country and others, looking forward to others.

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc.....

[@donnakaye6919]

Please do explain about the funerals and burials, love your videos! So much information, I’m moving there soon, bit nervous!!!😊

[@philipleckburg8443]

Hey! You have a shout out to my hometown! Youngstown Ohio! I live in Fort Worth Texas now. Love the channel.

[@johncrawford6571]

Lol! I love this! I am a 65 yr old American man through and through. That being said though, I am also a thoughtful American who desires to live at peace with my neighbors and family, and so with freedom comes responsibility. I don't find the laws mentioned here to be that terrible. I would wholeheartedly be behind them. However, it's fun and informative to hear what other countries are doing. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to the next time! How do you like Cincinnati? I grew up in and around Newark and the Buckeye Lake area back in the 60s and 70s. It is so different now from that time.

[@jijivisha2807]

I watch like almost every video of you as a german and learn so much things about Germany :D thanks for that

[@CaptainGyro]

Feliz, your presentation skills are outstanding. You have pizazz up the whazoo.

[@Lea-rb9nc]

As a native Californian who immigrated to the Mediterranean in 2007, I find the differences between our neighboring countries fascinating.

[@anthonykaiser974]

Only place I've ssen a car pulled over by Polizei was at the A-3/A-93 interchange around Regensburg where the speed is limited to 100 Km/hr, and only the one time in 2017 at that, and I've spent considerable time in that area. When my car broke down outside Nittendorf, just up the A-3 from Regensburg, I didn't see one for an hour while waiting for my towtruck.

[@kd5you1]

I believe in the aviation world it is illegal to run out of fuel too. This doesn't include mechanical problems with the aircraft but more specifically when too little fuel is pumped into the fuel tanks.

[@connormccloy9399]

Certain airlines have gotten into trouble with this because they decide to use smaller airplanes for longer trips to save money, but then have to land mid-flight to refuel if they end up using more fuel than expected.

[@Lia-uf1ir]

10:26 Yes, I'd like you to talk about funerals and cemeteries and the differences between German and American ones. I also noticed differences between German cemeteries and those of other countries like France or the UK for instance which are usually more spectacular in grave architecture. At lest where I'm from in Germany, I don't know how this applies to other regions or whether there's a difference between protestant and catholic cemeteries for instance.

[@Irochi]

Since you mention it: iirc... there is this law commonly refereed as "Law of the rest of the dead". Which basically means that you may get fined for screaming or making noise while visiting a cemetery :)

[@Frohds14]

The biggest difference is that cemeteries in the US are usually run by funeral companies or religious groups who sell their grave sites and set their rules individual. In Germany, the cemeteries usually belong to the municipality or city, or municipal companies. In a few regions they still belong to the churches (but must be open for every religion or atheists). There are only very few private companies in this part of business, e.g. FriedWald. Municipalities and cities determine the individual options for funerals. Since there is a funeral obligation in almost all federal states, you do not have to advertise for customers and need to accept every special requests. Mostly they allow what is most cost-effective for them. Maintaining cemeteries is extremely expensive. The burial fees, you have to pay for a grave, do not cover the costs. In the two largest cemeteries in Europe, the Hauptfriedhof in Vienna and that in Hamburg Ohlsdorf, hygienic considerations played a role. In the big cities you didn't know where to go with the many corpses (many more people died than in our time, the birth and death rate was enormous), the cemeteries around and in churches were full and became a health risk. Therefore, the cemeteries were moved far outside the city and burials within the city walls were forbidden. Our burial traditions are ancient, some of them are from pre-Christian times. They correspond to the climatic and geological conditions on site. In the USA and GB there is no (longer) this uniform culture. Bill Bryson describes in his book "At Home: A Short History of Private Life" (2010) how the great cemeteries in England came about. It's very interesting and a bit disgusting.

[@chrisrudolf9839]

@@Irochi Yes and no. Making noise at a cementary is of course usually forbidden, but that is in the local house rules of the community that runs the cementary and (if it is a public cementary) can be fined as a misdemeanour (Ordnungswidrigkeit). The law you mean that is called Störung der Totenruhe (§ 168 StGB) has nothing to do with being quiet, Ruhe is more accurately translated as "rest" in that context ("disturbing the rest of the dead"). That law rules the crime of damaging or defiling a grave or memorial to a dead person or stealing, damaging or defiling a corpse.

[@franhunne8929]

German cemeteries are usually rather new, hence they look quite monotone. Visit one of the few surviving older ones - and you will see that in the 19th century we had some great grave architecture, too. In Hannover that would be the Gartenfriedhof, for example.

[@keith6234]

What amazed me about German Cemeteries is that you don't buy a grave site you rent it. If your family doesn't keep paying for grave the remains are moved to an unmarked section and the tombstone removed and someone else can rent the plot and put their tombstone on it. In the US you buy the grave site and it belongs to you forever.

[@MrRene1407]

When Helmutt Kohl (we have a song here about him called "Mänchen mit der dicker Kopf") was in the us he said 'you can say you to me' (Sie können du zu mir sagen) greetings from The Netherlands

[@IanKemp1960]

Thank you Feli this was very interesting and hilarious 🙂

[@rickmart61]

When I was traveling in Germany one law that I really liked was no commercial trucks on the road between 11PM Saturday until 11PM Sunday.

[@GordonBender]

Of course we have many exceptions for this law :D

[@csnide6702]

That would be GREAT in the US... ! way too many trucks on the road.... Not nearly enough shipping done by rail.

[@jimattrill8933]

That only applied to Autobahns. I used to travel at night and I remember seeing queues of trucks waiting for midnight (or maybe 11pm) then they would all start up and set off.

[@brandondavis7777]

@@csnide6702 That would be trash in the usa. Bigger road network, more areas are reachable by vehicle than by train. But you don't care about people in areas outside your own.

[@csnide6702]

@@brandondavis7777 WTF...?

[@Irochi]

12:22 can confirm. When I moved to Germany I had to ask cops for directions and I used the "Du" a few times, until one politely told me to stick to "Sie". Yo yes; if you are a foreigner you get some degree of patience in that regard. Greetings from Düsseldorf. Subscribed :)

[@siggilinde5623]

Most of our police officers are patient and polite. My father forgot his driver's license and his ID AND forgot to wear his helmet while driving his moped. Result? My mom and I looked confused as two policemen walked in our kitchen, helping my father carrying the groceries while telling him to not forget such important things. No fee, just a friendly warning. Will never forget the scene...policeman with a salad..

[@annatamparow4917]

Please, please show us the bee keeper laws! I have had a On-The-Go of headaches getting a certified bee-keeper certified! ❤

[@paulandkatbeauregard4755]

You're a Disney princess come to life and your English is absolutely amazing! Love your videos!

[@dougmhd2006]

9:28 Feli, this segment of your video inspired me to suggest a collaboration with fellow KZbinr Caitlin Doughty of "Ask a Mortician". IMO, it would be fascinating to explore funeral customs, laws, etc. outside the U.S.

[@divarachelenvy]

here in Queensland Australia, it was illegal to have a voodoo doll until about 1990 lol.

[@Myrtone]

And everywhere in Australia, voting is compulsory and cyclists must wear helmets. Many drugs available off the counter in most other countries are prescription only or not even sold in Australia, phenibut is an example of one banned altogether.

[@admerin6961]

Weird, Voodoo dolls are not even a real thing in hoodoo and voudoun. The dolls are literally just a tourist thing with no basis in the religion.

[@tjwells6824]

Also in Queensland, Australia it is illegal to own a Bunny Rabbit as a pet unless you can prove you're a magician.

[@divarachelenvy]

@@tjwells6824 yes because they were introduced vermin lol

[@swordfish9681]

Interesting...thanks for the video. Danke

[@lanctermann7261]

Ganz interessant! Danke sehr!

[@Krokostad]

I am German and have a drummer in my neighbourhood. I am glad that he/she isn't allowed to play at night and/or for hours a day.🙏 (the same applies to kids who "play" the flute 🙉)

[@lm3341]

"play" LMAO

[@Mepawnz85]

The same applies to everything that's just to fcking loud.

[@dustinsmith1134]

I bet you’re super fun at parties too. Haha

[@okaio1871]

Yea real fun at parties Karen 🙁

[@Krokostad]

@@dustinsmith1134 One drum the whole night.... great party!

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

There’s a list of approved names i Denmark too. Legal names are added annually but there’s still a lot of rejections of more unusual names.

[@muhammadsuhaidisuhaimee9035]

Spotted Bavaria flag behind you. Have experience live in Regensburg, Germany for 6 month for technology transfer training. Great experience there😊😊

[@LarArauz]

In our very first Airbnb stay in western Germany the landlord, who lived on the upper floor, had a book of rules. One of them was that she could enter the apartment whenever we were out. It felt like invasion of privacy for us, because she also moved some of our belongings. Now I’m thinking it might be safer to stay in a hotel next time. PS: She was a “super host” too.

[@JMMusician]

My original college major was music performance with piano as primary instrument. To have my technique, performance ability, and sight reading skill at that level of proficiency, I practiced 4 to 5 hours on weekdays throughout high school (the Amazon Original movie Nocturne captures truths about devotion to the instrument). I didn't, however, live in a rental apartment. I can't imagine subjecting people, other than my parents, to an hour daily of scales, arpeggios, Hanon, and Schmitt exercises before turning to new material. Listening to the repetition would have driven most people out of their minds. In hindsight, there are a variety of good reasons to place time limits on nascent piano perfectionists, not the least of which involves interacting with people other than the piano.

[@justus8675]

German here. The existance of rule does not mean, that everybody sticks to them ... Might be okay in some casese, and very, very not okay in other. There is this german saying: "Wo kein Richter, da kein Angeklagter!" - If there is no judge, the is no defendant. As long as nobody calls the police for playing the piano to long, there is no problem. Also interesing in this context: Children can be as loud as they want to be, because the sounds of them playing are not considered as "noise" from a legal point of view. Playing with each other, if they play the piano, the cited "law about musik at home" might come into action, i am no lawyer, sorry!

[@JMMusician]

@@justus8675 Interesting! Also similar to, "If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one around to hear it..." The children's play exception makes me think of, perhaps funny, hypothetical situations where two young kids play a duet on a toy piano. Given, it may not be funny to hear for any prolonged period... The specificity creates questions such as, does it have to be a real piano? Are all percussion instruments included? Would a harpsichord or organ be included? It's also interesting that a trumpetist or trombonist would be granted more practice time, if I remember correctly. There usually are not many legal restrictions on playing instruments in apartment or condominium complexes here, although incurring the wrath of your neighbor could be worse than a legal transgression!

[@potator9327]

A few years ago, there was an EU study on regulatory density. It found that within the EU, Germany has only a medium number of laws and regulations. Italy, for example, which is considered more casual, has almost a third more legal regulations. The difference is then probably that Germans also adhere to the rules. On the other hand, rules in some countries are also applied arbitrarily not to say only if there is not a small "donation".

[@annarae2396]

Living in Italy the last 2 years, I like to say that to Italians, traffic rules are considered just a suggestion.

[@isitramt]

Absolutely right. Before our daughter went to Bulgaria for a students exchange we got informations about the youth protection laws there. Much stricter then Germany. And then the information that nearly nothing is enforced.

[@janosvarga962]

Enforcement the word you looking for. Rules are rules but they worth is nothing without the other.

[@potator9327]

@@janosvarga962 Enforcement is only one aspect here. I totaly agree that rules will be disregarded if they are not enforced. But there is also a common attitude beyond the fear of punishment.

[@Ometecuhtli]

In Mexico's case many of the laws are just because the police is extremely lazy and very rarely do investigations (a few years back Amnesty International denounced in some prison it was about 90% of the inmates were caught on the spot and for between 40-50% of robberies were for amounts equivalent to about 50€). So laws are in many cases not exactly to make living easier but to stop someone with less impediment and it's easier to see on the street: a random stop sign on a thoroughfare, bike lane ends and can't ride on sidewalk as it isn't shared as would normally happen in many other places, "one-and-one" intersection with a two lane street so if you do the most logical thing of both cars passing at the same time one of them can still be stopped by police, and so on...

[@briancampbell179]

Regarding baby names, there are similar rules in Australia. Late last year, a TV show attempted to demonstrate the process. A pregnant presenter on the show WTFAQ (What The FAQ, a show that addressed viewer questions) registered her baby name as "Amphetamine Rules" to show how it would be rejected. It passed. Fortunately for the child, they recognised it as a mistake and corrected it.

[@rosalinethomas4665]

I love all these laws. Fantastic!! Especially about the names for babies.

[@Trifler500]

The US law against hitching/tying your alligator to a horse post is a pretty good one. :)

[@melance]

In New Orleans there is an ordinance that protects your right to grow as tall as you would like.

[@MikeBennettLordMota]

There is (or was) a law in NYC where u can't tie your giraffe or elephant to street lamps

[@Docsfortune]

You don’t see how that would be problematic?

[@FD2003Abc]

@@Docsfortune How else do I keep my alligator from wandering off?

[@Trifler500]

@Jonathan Parks When I say "US law" I just mean a law that exists in the United States, not that it's a federal law.

[@KrystalNCMA]

I am so glad I happened to watch this today because I also happened to find myself a little puzzled as to why these two sentences were so different: “Kommst du aus Russland, Boris?” vs “Kommen Sie aus Schweden, Herr Nobel?”

[@uweschnellmann3394]

ES kommt darauf an ob mann auf du und du getrunken hat....lol

[@eyekona]

That's the one reason I prefer and electric Piano over the regular one. I can play with headphones for as long as I want

[@domfer2540]

My wife and used vacation in Germany every three months. We lived in Italy, it was a short drive. Our favorite place was Garmisch-partenkirchen. We had just bought a new car and we would break it in between Munich and Frankfurt. On a Saturday night it snowed, on Sunday morning I was stopped from washing the snow off by the police. No work.

[@klausstock8020]

If you wanted to go Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Italy...Frankfurt is a serious detour. Anyway, you can wipe snow off your car at any time - you actually need to, if you want to drive it. *Washing* snow off is illegal, unless in a special car washing place, like a car washing box. But these washing boxes are "closed" on Sunday. The high pressure cleaner is pretty loud.

[@heikozysk233]

Some of these laws are State laws. In Berlin, I can use the car wash 7 days a week until at least 10pm or so. In Bavaria the car wash can only open Mon-Sat. Nevertheless, if temps are below freezing, it's not a good idea to use water to wash off snow.. water.. freezing.. ice..

[@scarletbegonias8991]

I LOVE your videos. It is so interesting to be able to learn about different cultures even if I can't go there, and I especially love your thoughts on America. Thanks for making these. 🙏

[@ancienbelge]

Re: point 6, this is called a “T-V distinction” in linguistics. (The name comes from “ty” vs. “vy” in Russian, or “tu” vs. “vous” in French, etc.) In German’s closest relative, Dutch: “jij” vs. “U” (note also capitalization). English historically had “thou” vs. “ye/you”: over time, “thou”, originally the informal pronoun, eroded until it is now associated with religious use. [Ironically, in spoken “Flemish” Dutch, “gij”, the cognate of “thou”, is used instead of both “jij” and “U”.] Semitic languages like Hebrew or Arabic don’t have T-V (in Hebrew, if you want to be really deferential, you speak about somebody in the third person: as Abraham addressed G-d, “shall not the Judge of All the Earth do justice”?).

[@disuser-lp3qv1tm8f]

A capitalized U in Dutch refers to God. So definitely "note the capitalization"!

[@bobk7428]

@@disuser-lp3qv1tm8f My recollection is that garbage cans inside MCDonald's in the Netherlands say "Dank U" on them, as if to say thanks for throwing away your trash and not leaving it on the table.

[@uliwitness]

Yeah, the English is the same as politeness in French and German: Plural majestatis. The 2nd person plural is used for a singular person. The informal then "eroded" as you say, fell out of use, and is only found in really old texts (or texts trying to invoke the image of being old, like certain additions to religious texts).

[@eric1966tomson]

@@disuser-lp3qv1tm8f wrong. You say "U" to ANYbody as a sign of respect (superiors, unknown persons, officials, etc.), as you say "jij" to anybody informally (friends, family, subordination, etc.). God has nothing to do with that.

[@disuser-lp3qv1tm8f]

@@eric1966tomson That doesn't make me wrong, it makes you claim more than you can prove. Originally, U was reserved for the name of God and any other pronouns etc. that refer to Him. Later, U was used to include people in high positions, such as kings, princes, dukes etc. Still later its use was gradually expanded to include anyone in Formal writing. Nowadays, the respect that was once reserved for the Creator has been watered down to include plebeians in fastfood chains.

[@selwynowen6213]

When I was stationed in West Germany in 1978-82. It was against the law to put your washing on the line on a Sunday, and shops were closed and big furniture stores were allowed to be open but there weren’t any transactions were allowed to take place. It was the best posting I had whilst I was in the army 👍👍👍👍👍

[@ianmuir3640]

Same it was a great posting Munster

[@missedapproach57]

Oh yeah, I was cutting my grass on a Sunday when I lived in Niederndorf. My neighbor quickly came out and shouted at me that cutting my grass on Sonntag ist verboten! I happily put my mower away for the day.

[@danieljordanov]

USA has "case law" system, meaning every court case/ruling is becoming a law. This way many weird wordings could occur. I heard in Alaska there is a specific law prohibiting a "throwing out" of a living deer out of the plane during the flight ;)

[@danieljordanov]

... In Chicago it's prohibited to the firefighter to save from fire an undressed (properly) women ;) Felicia, you could make series based on "weird" US laws. Can't remember in which state, but it was a law prohibiting the people to wear an ice-cream in the back pocket...penalty is 3 days in prison...wow

[@danieljordanov]

Another series sequence could be made on US IFU (instructions for use)... E.g. in the IFU for electric blankets there is "It can't be used as a protection against tornado" ;) IFU for microwave oven states: "It can't be used for drying out pets" and it's based on a true story...

[@TheLukasz032]

It kinda deserves the tag of /r/suspiciouslyspecific :)

[@stevegfromnc3482]

Case law in the US is only created by the appellate courts. Most cases do not reach the appellate courts. And the appellate judges normally apply the principle of stare decisis which means that they are bound so much as possible by prior decisions of the same court.

[@danieljordanov]

@@stevegfromnc3482 You replied on the above comments or just in general? ;)

[@12hairyjohn]

If you want to do cemeteries, be sure to include New Orleans. The water table is so high that people are buried above ground.

[@skypilot49]

Grüß Gott, Feli. I was stationed at McGraw Kaserne in S. Munich from 1984 to 1987 with the US Air Force. These were the best years of my life. I traveled all over Germany and Western Europe. One of my favorite things to do was participate in Volksmarches on Sat and Sun. I have over 750km during that time. I also LOVED the annual Oktoberfest. My favorite beer is Paulaner Hefeweizen and then Spaten Helles. I loved the German phrase - Ordnung muß sein and that answers the topic of this video. Tschüss from Central Virginia.

[@abellewis3062]

I love hearing about laws in other countries. It's interesting to me.

[@katjaamyx2922]

Yes, I would be interested in a video about the differences between German and American cemeteries and funerals. And I agree with the folks who suggested a crossover with the Ask a Mortician channel.

[@user-un6mh4uc7w]

My Ex came back to me few days ago I got help from a Relationship Restore Dr Kayode Who was able to mend back my broken relationship and make my ex to come back and beg for a second chance.He can bring your ex back,and he also do a lot of work also like Financial problem,and court case, lottery spell etc....

[@KonradKeck]

One remark: there is a difference between actual laws (as they have been passed by a parliament) and legal ruling by courts. In both cases you have legal bindings/rights/obligations, yet they differ quite a lot (one is democratically legitimised the other is a specification based on preexisting cases and interpretation of aforementioned laws). It is worth noting, that although the US/UK and German administration's are based on the rule of law, they have very distinct traditions. In Germany this goes back to Roman law and a law-on-case mantality: there is a different book of law for every situation. However, the US and the UK are both more hands on. They only pass laws every now and then in some broad manner and leave most of the details to the courts. There the laws are refined based on cases after its release. Germany does that as well, but far less extensive than other countries.

[@raymondmuench3266]

There’s an unwritten understanding in US: legislation isn’t law until it’s litigated.

[@billhess6647]

I enjoyed your display of the German laws. The one I found amusing is the one I wish was in the United States. It's the one about cutting your lawn am Sonntag. It's not funny or enjoyable that I have to hear a lawn mower every day, but for 45 years I have heard a lawn mower EVERY day. Also, I have driven on the Autobahn. It gave me great pleasure in realizing that as you drive, no one will do (almost no one) a stupid or unexpected move. I wish American drivers would take a course in driving from the German population. Thanks, as always from doing such a good informative presentation.

[@OldieBugger]

When I was working for a time in Germany, I loved the Sundays. Ah, the silence & calm! The only problem was food, since I'm not keen on cooking. All the restaurants were closed as well. Luckily there are enough Kebab-shops that are open even on Sundays. Sometimes you can't help loving 'multikulti'.

[@callsigndd9ls897]

Restaurants in Germany are usually open on Sundays. The owner can decide whether or not to open a restaurant on Sundays or during the day in general. It depends on the area in which a restaurant is located and whether it is worth opening during the day. However, most restaurants that are closed during the day open in the evening from around 5 p.m. when people want to eat out.

[@rettawhinnery]

When I was in grad school, I taught at the Intensive English Center, teaching ESL. There was a social event where students from various countries did skits protraying their cultures. The group of German students portrayed how Americans stand in line (sloppy, crooked, slouching, etc.) and how Germans stand in line (very orderly, good posture, neat, etc.). They made us laugh.

[@HeyItsSarah30]

That’s ironic considering that Germans don’t actually stand in line 🤣😂

[@kimballscarr]

Actually the Finnish have the German's beat on line standing.

[@bibotronics]

If there is one thing Germans don't, won't and seemingly can't it's waiting in line. Fortunately in supermarkets there are shelves separating the lines of customers waiting for the different cashiers. Otherwise I promise, we'd see fights at Aldi & Lidl every Saturday. ;-)

[@alicemilne1444]

@@kimballscarr I though the British were the champion queuers.

[@kimballscarr]

@@alicemilne1444 I don't think so they usually get into fights and cut in... at least at the football matches.